Just one month after the overthrow of Egypt's first democratically elected president, Mohamed Morsi, the country is again facing uncertainty over its future.

This week, security forces violently attacked Morsi supporters, who were attacked at encampments near Cairo where they had been calling for the former president's return to power. The death toll from the attack is at 525 – and rising.

The US has strongly condemned the violence and is facing pressure to suspend aid to Egypt's military as the number of casualties and injuries continues to mount.

Join Spencer Ackerman and Martin Chulov on Friday afternoon for a Q&A on the crackdown, the country's future and the role of the US in the ongoing crisis.

Martin is an expert on the middle east who has reported extensively from Egypt and Syria for a number of years. Spencer is national security editor of Guardian US and will be able to provide context on the role of the US in the ongoing crisis.

Post your questions below and upvote your favorites.

This Q&A is now closed.

A/ I wouldn't put money on Egypt emerging as a shining light of Jeffersonian democracy anytime soon. Turkey pre-Erdogan (with the military playing an active role) seems a best case scenario at this point.

B/ Spencer's got that covered. I'd just reiterate that US foreign policy in the region has a more narrow focus these days - Israel and the Palestinians is the main game. where Egypt fits into that matters much to Washington.